Title

Colors Ignite

Problem Scenario
This could solve the question of which candle burns colder than others? Is there a safer candle to burn in my house?
Broad Question
What color candle burns the fastest?

Specific Question

Does the color of a candle affect the the temperature of the flame?

Hypothesis

It is hypothesized that the color of a candle will not change the temperature of the flame?

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable:

The Color of the candle.

Dependent Variable:

The temperature of the flame.

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:

Color, Size, Brand

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

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General Plan

My plan is to take 24 candles. They are six different colors, and four of each color. I am going to light them and take the temperature of the flame. Then I will record it. Then I will compare them and see if the color of the candle changes the temperature of the flame.

Potential Problems And Solutions

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

Experimental Design

(add the correct headings from the experimental design page before beginning)

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost
Blue Candles	4	Yankee Candle	$.99 Ea.
Red Candles	4	Yankee Candle	$.99 Ea.
Grey Candles	4	Yankee Candle	$.99 Ea.
Green Candles	4	Yankee Candle	$.99 Ea.
Brown Candles	4	Yankee Candle	$.99 Ea.
White Candles	4	Yankee Candle	$.99 Ea.

Detailed Procedure

1. Buy candles
2. Light the candles
3. Let burn for five minutes each
4.Take the temperature of the flame
5. Record on paper
6. Make graph
7. Make analysis
8. Finish Project

Diagram

Photo List

Time Line

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Data Table

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AnBTuAT_PUQ7dHJnNGo4SUhYa0ttbnFzYndCaXJxYmc&output=html

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Data Analysis

All Raw Data

Graphs

Photos

Results

My hypothesis was wrong. The color of a candle does change the temperature of the flame. It does not change it a lot, but there is a difference. The difference is about 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. So if you look at my hypothesis graph and my graph from my expirement you will see that there is a difference.

Conclusion

It was hypothesized that the color of a candle will not change the temperature of the flame. My project proved this hypothesis is incorrect. The color of the candle does change the temperature of the flame. Lighter colored candles have a higher temperature than darker colored candles. If you look at my graph you will see that the grey candle has the highest temperature of the flame. The Blue candle has the lowest temperature of the flame. I found that the change in temperature of the flame is very little. The biggest difference is from 62 degrees Celsius to 73.5 degrees Celsius.

Discussion

My data showed that lighter colored candles burned hotter than darker colored candles. Most of my lighter colored candles burnt at a temperature of about 70 degrees Celsius. Most of the darker colored candles burnt at a temperature of about 65 degrees Celsius. The relationship between the Independent and Dependent variables is pretty strong and straight forward. The independent variable is the color of the candle, and the dependent variable is the temperature of the flame. I ended up with the answer to my question. The color of the candle does change the temperature of the flame. My experiment had one problem. When i was doing my procedure the inferred thermometer was not working at first. Other than that it went as planned. This experiment could have been more into the scent and color of the candles. I also could have tested more candles than I did. Other than that I think that this was a successful experiment, and went well. I know that it answered my questions about the candles that we burn in my house.

Benefit to Community and/or Science

Background Research

Candles are a common household item. Some have them everywhere, and others don't because they think they will be a safety issue. Also some have the in there basement, in a cabinet, at least on hand because they are helpful in power outages. Back when there was no light bulb people used them as there lighting at night. So what is it exactly? It is a solid block of wax with an embedded wick, which is ignited to provide light, and sometimes heat, and historically was used as a method of keeping time.
A candle manufacturer is usually called a Chandler. A candle is burnt by the wick which keeps going by the fuel on the wick and in the wax.
Candles were once made from tallow and beeswax until the 1850, then were made of mostly spermaceti and purified animal fats. Today, most candles are made from paraffin wax, also can be made from beeswax, soy, other plant waxes, and tallow. Gel candles are made from a mixture of mineral oil and a polymer. Often fragrance oils, essential oils or aniline-based dye is added.
A candle wick is a piece of string or cord that holds the flame of a candle. Commercial wicks are made from braided cotton. A candle wick works by capillary action, drawing the melted wax or fuel up to the flame. When the liquid fuel reaches the flame, it vaporizes and combusts. The candle wick influences how the candle burns.
A candle flame has three distinct regions. The innermost zone, directly above the wick contains wax vapors that have just been vaporized. The middle zone, the yellow portion of the flame is an oxygen depleted zone, where partial oxidation has occurred, but insufficient oxygen exists to burn all of the vapors present. The temperature in this region is hotter than the innermost zone, but cooler than the outer zone. The outer zone is the area where the flame is the hottest and the oxidation process is complete.

The earliest known candles originated in China around 200 BC, and were made from whale fat. Candles did not appear in Europe or the Middle East until sometime after AD 400, due largely to the availability of olive oil for burning in lamps. The early European candle was made from various forms of natural fat, tallow, and wax. In the 18th century, spermaceti, oil produced by the sperm whale, was used to produce a superior candle. Late in the 18th century, colza oiland rapeseed oil came into use as much cheaper substitutes.
References

• "Candle." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Mar. 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2013.
• "Scented Candles | Home & Car Air Fresheners, Fragrances, Décor - Yankee Candle."Scented Candles | Home & Car Air Fresheners,

Fragrances, Décor - Yankee Candle. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2013.

• "Join Our Mailing List." Colonial Candle. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2013.

Abstract

I did my science fair on candles. I tested to see if the color of the candle changes the temperature of the flame. It might sound like some boring project, but it is not. I pretty much got to play with candles the whole time. It shows that science can be fun. Who knew? So now lets get down to the science. I took twenty four candles. Six different colors, six different scents, four candles of each color and scent. I lit all of them, and let them burn for 3 minutes each. Then I used an Infrared Thermometer to take the temperature of the flame. In the beginning I thought that the color of the candle would not change the temperature of the flame. I was proven incorrect by my project. I found that the lighter the color candle the higher the temperature of the flame is. So if you are trying to find a safer candle to burn in your house I would suggest going with a darker colored candle. Most likely the temperature of the flame will be lower than a lighter colored candle.